Of the many pests that can invade a house, the wood borer is one that homeowners should be very wary about. While wood borers do not attack people, they belong to the group of pests that damage and destroy property.

Just like other pests infesting the home, identification and knowledge about the wood borer will help a great deal in stopping and effectively treating an infestation.

Physical Characteristics

With a life span of about three years, wood borers belong to families of beetles, flying in the spring and summer seasons. The wood borers to watch out for in Australian homes are the lyctid or powder post borer and the anobiid borer.

Homeowners should be worried about seasoned timber that is not kiln dried. If the wood used in the house went directly to the mill, there is a big chance that there are larvae left in them that will continue to feed on the wood pulp.

The lyctid or powder post borer is the most common species of wood borers in the country. It is so named for the fine, talcum-like dust that it produces.

The lyctid borers are approximately 2 mm to 6 mm long when they mature and are dark brown in colour. These insects attack hardwoods such as oak and some eucalyptus, but not pine and spruce wood. Lyctid borers feed on wood with moisture content under 25%.

Softwood, similar to pine, is not totally immune from wood borers. The anobiid borers are commonly seen in furniture items and in seasoned pine wood, blackwood and English oak.

Queensland homes may be susceptible to the Queensland pine beetle, a shiny, reddish brown wood borer that grows to approximately 3 mm.

Damage to Homes

Wood borers may not be directly attacking humans, but their presence in the home can cause costly damage. These pests feed on the sapwood, starch and other nutrients in the wood. They bore holes in the wood materials, which can weaken the structural support for the house.

Why You Need a Professional

Wood borers differ from species to species. Treatment for one species may not necessarily be effective for another. You will need to hire a professional pest inspection service to provide pest solutions well targeted to the particular pest infesting the home.

Treatment for wood borers will depend on the type of wood borer species and the type of wood affected. A licensed and fully trained pest specialist needs to formulate the best way to stop the infestation.

If you’re looking for one, look no further. Bob Gunn Termite Solutions will thoroughly search your property and inspect for any hidden pests and then start the right treatment that best fits your issue. Contact us today.

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